Magnet elementary school in Brea partners with Discovery Cube Orange County

An image of the Discovery Cube in Santa AnaBrea Olinda Unified’s first and only magnet school has entered into a new partnership with Discovery Cube Orange County that’s already providing unique opportunities for students and educators.

District officials say teachers and other staff members at Laurel Magnet School of Innovation and Career Exploration recently received 10 hours of professional training on the state’s Next Generation Science Standards as part of the collaboration, which began in January. 

A teacher working with students in the classroom
Paul Pooler, director of education for Discovery Cube Orange County, shows students how to make rocket canisters at Laurel’s Family Astronomy Night, which was held earlier this month.

In addition, many parents of younger learners are participating in a monthly literacy and STEAM training called Futuros Radiantes/Bright Futures.

STEAM, of course, stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math, and Futuros Radiantes is Discovery Cube’s award-winning program designed for low-income parents of children age six and under. The goal is to help young kids become school-ready, develop complex language and reading skills in English and Spanish, understand number sense, and incorporate scientific thinking.

Meanwhile, every Laurel student — the school spans transitional kindergarten through grade six — will get an opportunity to take a field trip to the Cube (we assume that’s what the kids call it these days), and there will be additional hands-on, STEAM-based lessons in the classroom, along with grade-level STEAM assemblies.

Earlier this month, the campus even hosted a Family Astronomy Night in collaboration with Discovery Cube’s education department.

The partnership between Laurel and Discovery Cube OC is expected continue through the 2018-19 school year.